São Simão is a municipality in south-central Goiás state, Brazil. Location São Simão is strategically situated on the border of Goiás with Minas Gerais, which makes it a major river navigation link between central Brazil, the Prata river system and the South Atlantic. By way of the Paranaíba-Paraná-Tietê river system, from São Simão one can travel from Minas to São Paulo, Paraná, Paraguay and Argentina. The region has a mild tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 23 °C. The municipality has boundaries with Paranaiguara on the north; Santa Vitória-MG on the south and east; and Caçu on the west. The region has good highway connections and is crossed by BR-365, which links São Simão to the Triângulo Mineiro and São Paulo; BR-364, which connects to the southeast of Goiás and Mato Grosso; and GO-060 and GO-164 with links to Goiânia and Brasília. The distance to the state capital, Goiânia is 365 km. Highway connections are made by BR-060 / Abadia de Goiás / Guapó / Indiara / Acreúna / GO-164 / Santa Helena de Goiás / Quirinópolis / BR-483 / GO-164 / Paranaiguara / BR-364. There is a regional airport with a paved runway measuring 1,800 meters in length and 45 meters in width. It can receive planes up to 99 tons. In the municipality there is also a district—Itaguaçu—and a village—Olaria. (Municipalities in Brazil are divided into "distritos", "povoados", and "aglomerados".) Demographics Population density in 2007: 33.41 inhabitants/km2 Population growth rate 1996/2007: 1.11.% Total population in 2007: 13,832 Total population in 1980: 11,374 Urban population in 2007: 13,464 Rural population in 2007: 368 Population change: the population has increased by about 2,450 inhabitants since 1980. The economy The economy is based on tourism, subsistence agriculture, cattle raising, services, public administration (802 workers in 2003), and small transformation industries. Much of the income is generated by the hydroelectric plant. The cattle herd had 40,000 head (2006). The main agricultural products were rice, and corn. Economic Data (2007) Industrial establishments: 19 Financial institutions: Banco do Brasil S.A., Bradesco S.A., Banco Itaú S.A. (August/2007) Retail establishments in 2007: 192 Automobiles: 1,463 (2007) There is one automobile for every 9.45 inhabitants. (2007) Main agricultural products in ha.(2006) rice: 150 corn: 600 Farm Data (2006)in ha. Number of farms: 69 Total area: 17,550 Area of permanent crops: 4 Area of perennial crops: 4,760 Area of natural pasture: 10,525 Persons dependent on farming: